Straight up with Statik

Bangkok party people get their hip-hop fix on Sunday as DJ and producer Statik Selektah jets into town for a gig at Q Bar on Sunday.

It was a pure love of music and true passion for hip-hop that led 30-year-old Statik Selektah – his mum and dad named him Patrick Baril - to be an aspiring DJ at a young age, playing with his parents’ 8-tracks and cassette decks. Around 1993, he began recording freestyle and pause mix tapes, all while studying the music of Gangstarr, Wu-Tang Clan, Dr Dre, A Tribe Called Quest, Rakim, Nas and KRS-One, to name a few. By 7th grade, Statik was DJ-ing at school dances.

In 1995, he visited New Jersey and heard Funkmaster Flex. Falling in love with the art of turntablism, he returned home to Massachusetts and got started right away. Statik’s vinyl collection began growing rapidly as he stocked up on releases by Group Home, AZ, Nas, Gangstarr, and Common Sense. 

Around the same time, Statik began doing radio at Phillips Exeter Academy’s WPEA, where he also occasionally DJ-ed at some of the Afro-Latino Society Parties. This expanded his musical taste into reggae and more R&B. His record collection continued to grow after frequenting record stores like Biscuithead (Boston), Fat Beats, and Rock and Soul (NYC). In 1998, at the age of 16, Statik expanded into rocking nightclubs and parties across the coast, including Hampton Beach’s “Heaven”, an under 21 club that later became the area’s hottest teen spot. He quickly learned the basics and mentality of rocking clubs, no matter what age the crowd.

With his label Showoff Records emerging in 2006 with albums from Termanology & Granite State, and classic mixtapes with Nas, G-unit, and AZ, the world started listening. Statik has recently been featured on MTV Mixtape Mondays (4x), BET’s Rap City, XXL Magazine, and frequents Eminem’s Shade 45 Station.

Currently residing in New York City, Statik appears on airwaves across the world including Sirius Satellite, 93 WBLX in Mobile AL, Kiss 100 London, Groove FM Australia, and various mix shows weekly on FM stations across the US. 

He chatted with us last weekend. 

 

What are you up to now? 

Getting ready for a Friday night in NYC. You never know what can happen!

 

Any chance we’ll be hearing your new album some time this year?

Yeah, I have a few projects coming out this year, but the album I did with Reks is next, then my album with Termanology, as 1982. I also have new records with Bun B, Styles P, Mac Miller, Eminem, Obie Trice and many others. Stay tuned!

 

How’s the Shade 45 show? How did you get to work on the show?

I’ve been doing it for 6 years now. Clinton Sparks brought me there and from there they gave me my own show! It’s fun!

 

Dream collaborator?

Jay-Z! 

 

What kinds of music did you grow up listening to?

1970s and ’80s R&B and especially ’90s hip-hop.

 

What was your first glimpse of hip-hop, and how did it appeal to you?

Hearing A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang Clan. It sucked me right in and I’ve been addicted since.

 

Who’s your favourite hip-hop artist?

Probably Biggie (also known as The Notorious B.I.G) - RIP!

 

How do you like the hip-hop scene now?

It’s evolving. You never know what will blow up next, but everything seems be young right now. Lotta kids blowing up!

 

What’s the plan for Bangkok?

I’m going to rock the party, do some cuts, play some exclusives. Come!

 

Beats and rhymes

>> Statik Selektah is performing at Q Bar on Sukhumvit Soi 11 on Sunday. 

>> Ladies get two drinks and free entry till midnight. All others pay Bt600 for entry, plus two complimentary drinks.

>> Call (02) 252 3274; www.QBarBangkok.com. Dress code, ID.